2021–22 Kategoria Superiore

The 2021–22 Kategoria Superiore was the 83rd official season, or 86th season of top-tier football in Albania (including three unofficial championships during World War II) and the 22nd season under the name Kategoria Superiore. The season began in 10 September 2021 and ended on 26 May 2022. Tirana won the league title on 7 May 2022, with 3 matches to spare.Komiteti Ekzekutiv përcakton datat e nisjes së kampionateve për sezonit 2021–22 – FSHF

The winners of this season's Kategoria Superiore earned a place in the first qualifying round of the 2022–23 Champions League, with the second and third placed clubs earning a place in the first qualifying round of the 2022–23 Europa Conference League.

Teams Two clubs have earned promotion from the Kategoria e Parë, Dinamo Tirana (promoted after a nine-year absence) and Egnatia (promoted after a sixteen-year absence). Apolonia (relegated after only one year in the top flight) and Bylis (relegated after two-years in the top flight) were relegated to Kategoria e Parë at the conclusion of last season.

Locations

Team Home city Stadium Capacity 2020–21 season Dinamo Tirana Tirana Arena Kombëtare Runner-up (Kategoria e Parë) Egnatia Rrogozhinë Arena Egnatia Champion (Kategoria e Parë) Kastrioti Krujë Kamëz Stadium 8th Kukësi Kukës Kukës Arena 6th Laçi Laç Laçi Stadium 4th Partizani Tirana Arena Kombëtare 3rd Skënderbeu Korçë Skënderbeu Stadium 7th Teuta Durrës Niko Dovana Stadium Champion Tirana Tirana Selman Stërmasi Stadium 5th Vllaznia Shkodër Loro Boriçi Stadium 2nd

Stadiums Dinamo TiranaEgnatiaKastriotiKukësiLaçiArena KombëtareUEFA stadium categoryArena EgnatiaKamëz StadiumKukës ArenaUEFA stadium categoryLaçi Stadium Capacity: 22,500 Capacity: 4,000 Capacity: 5,500 Capacity: 6,322 Capacity: 2,300PartizaniSkënderbeuTeutaTiranaVllazniaArena KombëtareUEFA stadium categorySkënderbeu StadiumNiko Dovana StadiumSelman Stërmasi StadiumLoro Boriçi StadiumUEFA stadium category Capacity: 22,500 Capacity: 12,343 Capacity: 12,040 Capacity: 9,500 Capacity: 16,000

Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and Managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Team President Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Dinamo Tirana Ardian Bardhi Rodolfo Vanoli Agim Ibraimi Claw Caffè Pascucci, Palma Egnatia Agim Demrozi Zekirija Ramadani Gëzim Krasniqi Uhlsport − Kastrioti Petro Kumi Emiliano Çela Sokol Neziri Uhlsport Qafshtama Kukësi Safet Gjici Diego Longo Gjelbrim Taipi Joma Kevin Construction Laçi Pashk Laska Shpëtim Duro Aleksandar Ignjatović Uhlsport Caffè Vergnano Partizani Gazmend Demi Dritan Mehmeti Alban Hoxha Joma Emi Trans Skënderbeu Ardian Takaj Gentian Liçi Vangjel Zguro Joma − Teuta Edmond Hasanbelliu Renato Arapi Emiljano Vila Macron Kastrati, Selita Tirana Refik Halili Orges Shehi Erion Hoxhallari Uhlsport − Vllaznia Alban Xhaferi Mirel Josa Erdenis Gurishta Suzmar Bavaria, Intersig

Managerial changes TeamOutgoing managerManner ofdepartureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate ofappointmentKukësi Mutual consent6 June 2021Pre-season 16 July 2021Laçi Mutual consent16 August 2021 17 August 2021Laçi Mutual consent16 October 202110th 19 October 2021Laçi End of caretaker spell24 October 20217th 24 October 2021Teuta Resigned26 November 20213rd 26 November 2021Egnatia Sacked29 November 20218th 29 November 2021Egnatia End of caretaker spell6 December 20218th 6 December 2021Teuta End of caretaker spell14 December 20215th 14 December 2021Kastrioti Mutual consent23 December 202110th 23 December 2021Partizani Mutual consent28 December 20216th 28 December 2021Teuta Mutual consent24 January 20226th 24 January 2022Dinamo Tirana Mutual consent7 February 20227th 7 February 2022Skënderbeu Mutual consent9 March 202210th 9 March 2022Vllaznia Sacked14 March 20224th 14 March 2022Dinamo Tirana Mutual consent14 March 20229th 16 March 2022Laçi Sacked5 April 20222nd 7 April 2022Skënderbeu Resigned12 May 202210th 12 May 2022Vllaznia Mutual consent15 May 20225th 15 May 2022

League table

Results Clubs will play each other four times for a total of 36 matches each.

First half of season

Second half of season

Positions by round The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches.

Relegation play-off

Both clubs remained in their respective leagues.

Season statistics

Scoring

Top scorers RankPlayerClubGoals1 Saliou GuindoLaçi19 Taulant SeferiTirana3 Redon XhixhaTirana144 Liridon LatifiVllaznia12 Stênio JúniorPartizani6 Ante AralicaVllaznia10 Edi BašaKukësi PedroEgnatia Rubin HebajTeuta Tedi CaraPartizani Xhuliano SkukaDinamo/Partizani

Discipline

Player Most yellow cards: 14 Erdenis Gurishta (Vllaznia) Goran Siljanovski (Dinamo Tirana)

Most red cards: 2 Albion Marku (Partizani) Asion Daja (Teuta) Bekim Dida (Kastrioti) Mevlan Adili (Vllaznia) Vangjel Zguro (Skënderbeu)

Awards Annual awards Award Winner Club Manager of the Season Orges Shehi Tirana Player of the Season Redon Xhixha Tirana Young Player of the Season Simon Simoni Dinamo Tirana

Team of the Year Goalkeeper Visar Bekaj (Tirana) Defenders Erdenis Gurishta (Vllaznia) Eneo Bitri (Partizani) Filip Najdovski (Tirana) Esin Hakaj (Vllaznia) Midfielders Arinaldo Rrapaj (Partizani) Chandrel Massanga (Partizani) Mentor Mazrekaj (Laçi) Forwards Taulant Seferi (Tirana) Xhuliano Skuka (Dinamo/Partizani) Redon Xhixha (Tirana) Source:

2021–22 Kategoria Superiore

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